Magnum

Artists: Magnum

Venue: Picturedrome (Holmfirth)

Date: 2 October 2025

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You could see he was emotionally moved by the reception he and the band received at the end of the show. If this was the last time I got to see live the great British band Magnum, then it’s a fitting way.

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I’ve been a fan of Magnum for forty-five years. The first album I bought from the English Melodic Hard Rock band was ‘Magnum II’ and I’ve been following them ever since. Due to a combination of logistics and work commitments I was unable to get to the shows earlier in the year, so I took the opportunity to catch one of the autumn dates. I managed to get a seat on the balcony area of the Holmfirth Picturedrome which, following renovations, can now accommodate approximately one-hundred-and-fifty of the six-hundred-and-fifty capacity that the venue was close to this evening.

As a tall, hooded figure dressed in black entered the stage my wife amusingly said to me, “I thought you said the singer was short?” In her defence, she’s not a Magnum fan and only came along due to my mate Kev being unfortunately ill on the day. This was the prelude to the opening number of the night, the magnificent ‘How Far Jerusalem’. The backdrop was a simple logo, the one with the sword through the “M”, which first appeared on the ‘Chase The Dragon’ opus in 1982 and has appeared on numerous albums since that time.

Lead singer and only original member left in the band Bob Catley doesn’t sound as good as he did in the early days; however, his voice was in better shape than the last time I saw him three years ago at The Leadmill in Sheffield. Fortunately, he’s wonderfully assisted with backing vocals from bassist Denis Ward (Khymera). Catley still does all the hand gestures he’s renowned for over the years, although as he’s naturally slowed down these at times appear a little like “Dad dancing”, but that’s said in an affectionate manner and not to ridicule the frontman.

With the exception of asking the crowd if we’re alright tonight, Catley kept the inter-song parlez to a minimum, although he did introduce guitarist Brendon Riley early doors. Riley has both the honour and unenviable task of filling the shoes of the late, great Tony Clarkin for whom this tour is a tribute. As his guitar tech for many years, he performs the songs unassumingly to perfection, much to the appreciation of the partisan audience. Completing the quintet are drummer Lee Morris and keyboard player Rick Benton, whose tinkling on the ivories are both a haunting and integral part of the classic Magnum sound.

There was bar stool on the stage, which I thought was going to be in more use than the one song, ‘Tall Ships’ from 2003’s ‘Rock Art album. With a career-spanning twenty-three studio albums it was always going to be an impossible task to play everybody’s favourite, but I think they managed to cover the majority with an impressive two-hour, nineteen-song show, split into two sets. It was also a wise decision to include nine songs from their two most popular releases, ‘On A Storyteller’s Night’ (1985) and ‘Vigilante’ (1986).

The first set concluded with the epic pairing of the Word War I epics ‘Les Morts Dansant’ and ’Don’t Wake The Lion (Too Old To Die Young)’, the latter bringing back poignant memories of the last time I saw Magnum play the Picturedrome.

Set One Setlist (Contains Spoilers)

How Far Jerusalem / Lost On The Road To Eternity / Wild Swan / When We Were Younger / Tall Ships / The Flood (Red Cloud’s War) / Les Morts Dansant  / Don’t Wake The Lion (Too Old To Die Young)

Having a twenty-minute break at this stage was well placed, as how do you follow ‘Don’t’ Wake The Lion’? Well, coming back with my all-time favourite Magnum song ‘Soldier Of The Line’ from the ‘Chase The Dragon’ opus is a good start. The crowd reaction to ‘Just Like An Arrow’ moved the dial from ten to eleven and it never came down for the rest of the evening. ‘Need A Lot Of Love’ is arguably more relevant today than when it was first written. The same could be said about ‘All England’s Eyes’, which again as sung with great passion by Catley, Ward and the fans. ‘On A Storyteller’s Night’ was one of the hairs raised on your arm moments, and if ‘Vigilante’ did not quite take off the proverbial roof, then the “You got me on the run” part of the riff-tastic ‘Kingdom Of Madness’ certainly did!

The band dismissed with the formalities of leaving the stage prior to the two-song encore. Catley dedicated ‘The Spirit’ to his friend and co-founding member Tony Clarkin for whom this tour was dedicated: ‘A Passage In Time: A Tribute To Tony Clarkin’. I don’t think you would have found anyone in the Picturedrome this evening that would not agree that the show was tasteful, nostalgic, respectful, and a fitting tribute to Clarkin.

Magnum is a band that should have been much bigger based on the quality of their music and live performances. Their albums were never platinum sellers that many deserved to be. They possibly were just too unique, not Hard Rock enough for the Metal crowd, not progressive enough for the Prog audience, and not commercial enough for the MTV crowd; however, for those like me and others in attendance this evening, they are a band to be cherished.

Following ‘When The World Comes Down’, Catley proudly introduced his fellow band members. You could see he was emotionally moved by the reception he and the band received at the end of the show. If this was the last time I got to see live the great British band Magnum, then it’s a fitting way. Thanks for the wonderful music and live shows over the past five decades.

Set Two Setlist (Contains Spoilers)

Soldier Of The Line / Just Like An Arrow / Need A Lot Of Love / On A Storyteller’s Night / Midnight (You Won’t Be Sleeping) / All England’s Eyes / Vigilante / Kingdom Of Madness 

Encore: The Spirit / When The World Comes Down

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Review: Mark Donnelly

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